PRAKASH TANDON Committee Report, 1994, appears to be the best one of all reports so far received by Indian Railways for better service and development of organisation. The speciality of this report is that it is of only 53-pages and indicated clearly how single cadre in IR can be implemented to abolish departmentalism for the interest of whole IR, not for any particular part. Anyways, there should be an open, free and frank and a healthy discussion on this topic keeping in view Tandon Committee Report.

As on March, 2009, 29.99% of total route was electrified. If it is analysed critically, it is observed that there is neither valid acceptable justification financially for Return On Investment (ROI) nor any other advantages except in as an alternate traction to Diesel one. Moreover, under the insufficient generation of electric power in our country, a large number of agricultural fields and farmers thereof are being deprived of electric power due to reckless electrification. The expenditure per electric loco is much higher than that of one Diesel Loco (about 2.5 times than Diesel Loco). Besides, during any heavy accident, heavier loss is incurred (time, money and inconvenience to dear customers) than Diesel traction.

Therefore, it is recommended to stop all electrifications to save huge money which can easily be diverted to other sustainable developmental projects for strengthening IR’s financial position. All projects appeared in RSP and Works Programmes simply being kept alive providing a token amount of fund for years after years should be reviewed seriously and scrapped immediately.

Fares for passengers and freight must be increased as per the demands of prevailing market price to match expenditure and earnings for the better customers service, including facilities and amenities like safety, security, punctuality, comfortable travelling, cleanliness, no harassment by RPF and GRP, availability of water 24 hours in running train with proper arrangement for authorized paid service of pure drinking water etc.

Regarding security, first of all both RPF and GRP must be withdrawn. Particularly, GRP must go away immediately to save huge funds. RPF should be taken off gradually. Instead, armed CISF should be deployed with the power of presenting the culprit, suspect to the court within 24 hours of arrest. At the fist instance, RPF should be deployed only in the stationary installations like workshops, training school & Institutes, goods shed etc. CISF should be deployed at running train, station, track etc. For this Indian Railways Act 1989 may be amended if required for the customers’ interest and also country thereof.

A study report on RPF done during mid-ninety in S E Railway, Garden Reach, and Kolkata may be referred in this context. It may also be available in Board’s office under E&R (ME) directorate.

There should be further manpower Planning by non-railway agency of repute like PWC, Young & Earnst and others over the departments like Personnel, Finance, Security and Operation. Last MPP was done by RITES who made about 40% rail personnel excess and recommended to reduce personnel @3% per annum. Thus the present strength has been achieved 13.86lakhs (2008-09) from 16.52lakhs (1990-91).

Political dictatorship by the leaders of political party should invariably be restrained at all levels to the maximum extent possible for effective and smooth management of Indian Railways (IR). Therefore, head of the IR as Minister of Railways(MR), should function as Titular head of IR, instead of existing manner of whims and exploitation of IR’s platform in the personal and party’s interest. Railway Board’s decision through CRB if returned thrice by MR, the decision will automatically be binding on MR to approve or sanction to save the country’s LIFE LINE from breaking down to the ground.

To generate revenue from non-conventional methods, it is recommended that all vacant land may be utilized for production of agricultural products on lease basis. Since 1965 ‘grow more food’ scheme initiated by late Lal Bahadur Shastri, ex-PM of India was started on Railways’ vacant land. This was implemented at Raipur, now Chhattisgarah, Kharagpur and other places too since long time ago. It gives no problem of permanent structure and rather produces more food for the nation. At any moment, in the exigency of railways’ developmental project, lease can be withdrawn. IR should take this advantage leaving aside other utopian ideas like building of commercial structure for hotel etc. which destroys the railways’ land only, creating hindrance to the sustainable developmental projects, whenever required in future.